Cable splice



5H. PRI-NGE.

July 7; 1925.

CABLE SPLICE Filed Jn.l 1s, 192.5

Fig. 2

Inventar HAR/f Y PRI/V65' P f Altar/uy Patented July 7, 1925.

PATENT OFFICE-,j

HARRY PRINCE, orv 'BUFFALQNEW Yonx, AssrGNon 'ro A'rnn nMnRrcAN MINE Doon COMPANY, or onnronfonio.'

Y CABLE SPLICE.

Application led January 13, 1923. Serial No. 612,560.

To vill whom-t mag/concern." l Be it known tha-t I, HARRY PRINCE, a subject ofthe-King of Great Brit-ain, residing at 283 14th' Street, Buffalo, in the county of Erie and' State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Cable Splices, of which the following is a specification. j This invention relates to improvements in cable splices. n

The principal object of the invention is to provide a cable splice which is self locked upon the connected cable ends. A further vobject is to provide a cable splice which is self' acting` in `the development and maintenance of the self locking effect and which vhas such action incident to its compression upon the cable ends to be connected.

Vith the'above objects in view the invention consists'generally in a'cable splice of integral formation having yieldable locking extensions and parts with which said ,provide the cable splice.

extensions co-operate to lock the splice in compressed relation upon, and insecure and `effective engagement with, the cable ends. The invention also consists in the combination 'with saidextensions of parts which act upon them to effect and maintain their interlocking engagement in co-operating recesses, 'thereby to make the cable splice self locked andfpositively Vlocked in compressed condition and in secure coupling engagement with' vthe adjacent cable ends.

The invention is illustrated in the accompany'ing drawings, wherein: Y

'n Figure .l i's an elevationl of the blank l Which'is compressed 'into annular form to Figure 2 is al perspective view showing i thecable splice in the form in which it is,V

offered for sale.

j Figures 3. and 4 are elevations taken at d-iiferent, angles vshowing the cable lsplice compressed upon the adjacent cable ends.

- The cable splice is produced in annular cross section from a blank having theform .shown in Figure l. This blankconsists of a ,iiat strip of metal' having a transversely centrally locatedbo'dy portion `l with parallel or substantially parallely slides 2. A'

centrally located tongue Sfof' generally tapering form lprojects longitudinally from"l the body portion at oneend of vthe'blank and at its other end thefblank is provided with a centrallylocated longitudinal recess 4 of general V-shape in which thetongue 3 is engagedrwhen thesplice is compressed. The recess 4 delimitsv at the sides'o'f the blank'a. pair of longitudinally extending laterallyin either direction and which'are I set in converging rela-tion, their side ,edges extendingy laterally .inward from the adjacent sidey edgesof the tongues 5. l

At the end from which the tongue 3 extends the body portion l is provided adjacent its sides with recesses 7 which conform 1n all respects to the extensions 6 and vin which said extensions are engaged when the splice is 'compressed upon the cable ends.

The recesses 7 extend in converging relation into the body portion l and delimit `an interl veningweb 8 from whichthe tongue 3 -directly projects, the sides 9 of the webfextendlng diverginglyV to the line at which'the web and ,tongue are integrally united` wherebylaterally raised 'shoulders lOare provided, 'which 'shoulders may be regarded as located at the' sides ofthetongue at-its base or at the inner sides,` ofthe recesses' 7 at the openings thereof. The recesses k7 also' delimit at the side-s of the blankflongitudi# nally extending finge-rs ll. 'Y I, `'The engaging face of the blank maybe provided with shallow longitudinal grooves 12" which extend from lthe bases of thefre- K cesses 7l to points along the ,tongues 5 and ,"'aid'` the secure'engagment, of thefsp`liceV upon 'thecable lends.A .-'lVhile these grooves'may be preferredout of 'an abundance fof'caup tion, the splice will be' eii'ective' without them, for which reason their yprovision 'is optional. l Y l 1 As offered for sale the splicefis fashioned f into annular cross 'section from the flat blank, the tip ofthe tongue' being introduced throughy the space between',the` extensions 46 into the mouth' ofthereclefss 4 and., the. diameterfof theV splice lbeing suit- ,ably greater-than thefdia'meter o-f the vcable ends. to be joined., whereby said y,cable ends may be readily inserted intov thefsplicefat either side thereof.l The splice inthe form shown in Figure 2is compressed or reduced'byfmea'ns ofv av suitable instrument upon the adjoining cable ends thereby to couple the same and asso compressed or reduced has secure coupling engagement w-ith and upon said cable ends, the parts of the splice being brought intoI the relations shown in Figures 3 and 4.

In the compression of the splice the tongue 8 isl introduced into the recess 4 until its tip engages in the vertex of said recess. As the tongue 3 is brought into the recess v4 the extensions 6 are in contacting engage ment with the inclined sides of said tongue and by said sides are flexedlaterally outi vward upon the tongues kuntil such time. as

` the points of contact of said extensions aline ytransversely with, that is to'sayengage upfon, the laterally presented shoulders 10- at theV base of the tongue 3. Thereafter and during thel further movement of the tongue 3 into the recess 4 the. extensions 6 are introduced into the recesses 7 and by the inclined outer sides of the recesses 7 (which sides are also the inner sides ofthe fingers ll) are flexed laterally inward upon the tongues 5, whereby when the Vtongue Sis completely engaged in the recess 4 the extensions 6 are completely and conformably engaged in the recesses 7 As engaged in the recesses 7 the extensions 6 are directed laterally inward and circumferentially behind the shoulders l0 and are thereby over-V The engagementV of the extensions 6 in the recesses 7 is mainhung by said shoulders.

tained by the co-operation of the lingers 1l which positively prevent any lateral outward movement of said extensions and the inclined sides '9 of the web .8 which opposeV and prevent any circumferential outward movement ofsaid extensions.

It will thus be apparent that by virtue i .of the extensions 6 and the parts which cooperate therewith a self locking action of the splice is set up incidentto the compression of the splice upon the adjoining cable ends and that this locking action is at all times vthereafter positively maintained .whereby to vinsure the permanence of the -v secure `and enective'coupling engagment of the `splice upon the adjacent cable ends, re-

gardless of any counter forces which may be developed.

.'A modification within the scope of the invention and the terms of the appended claims may be resorted to, according `tov `which the fingers 11 are eliminated but such a form, although useful and effective, is not as desirable as the formdisclosed since the self locked effect secured by theengagement ofthe extensions 6 against the inclined sides 9 and under the shoulders 10 is not self initiated but must `first beV established by drawing said extensions inward'by a suitable instrument nor will said` extensions be positively held in their locking positions.A

It will also be understood that other minor central tongue may be conformably en gaged, a. laterally flexible terminal extension on each tongue of said pair of tongues, and a web connecting said rcentral tongue and said body portion and having sides which diverge in the direction in which thevsides of said central tongue converge, thereby to provide laterally presented shoulders at the base of said central tongue behind which said extensions may be laterallyflex'ed in converging relation and into `contact with the sidesv of said web.

2. As -an article of manufacture a cable splice produced or to be produced in annular cross sectional form from aflat blank having a bodyk portion, a central tapering tongueextending longitudinally beyond one end of said body portion, a pair of tongues projecting longitudinally from Athe other end of said body portionv and delimiting between them a V-shaped recess in' which said central tongue may be conformably jengaged, and a laterally flexible terminal extension on each tongue of said pairof vtween them a V-shaped -recess in which said l tongues, .said extensions being in converging relation, the body portion; having recesses conforming to said extensions and in which said extensions are engaged, said recesses delimiting between them a web `which connects said central tongue and said body portion and has sides which diverge in the direction in which the sides of thel tongue` converge, thereby to provide laterallypreysented shoulders at the base of said central tongue and also delimiting at their outer` sides longitudinally extending fingers which vact upon the extensions as they enter said recesses to flex them laterally behind said shoulders and into contact vwith the sides of said web. 1

3. As an article of manufacture a cable splice produced or to'be produced in annular cross sectional form from aflat blank having a body portion, a central tongue extending longitudinally lbeyond one end of.rv said body portion, a pair of tongues projecting longitudinally from the other end of said body portion and delimiting between them a recessin which said central tongue may be engaged, a laterally flexible termi-- nal extension on each tongue of said pair of tongues, and a web connecting said central tongue and said body portion and being broader where it joins said central tongue than at other points in its extent, thereby to provide laterally presented shoulders at the base of said central tongue behind which said extensions may be laterally fiexed into contact with the sides of said web.

4. As an article of manufacture a cable splice produced or to be produced in annular cross sectional form from a flat blank having a body portion, laterally presented shoulders located beyond one end of said body portion, and extensions located beyond the other end of said body portion and which may be flexed laterally behind said shoulders, thereby to lock said splice in compressed relation.

5. As an article of manufacture a cable splice produced or to be produced in annular cross sectional form from a fiat blank having a body portion, laterally presented shoulders located beyond one end of said body portion and extensions located beyond the other end of said body portion, the body portion having recesses adjacent said shoulders in which said extensions are engaged, said recesses delimiting fingers at the sides of the body by which said extensions as 6. The cable splicev herein described consisting of a single integral metallic strip Vbent to form a ring vcompressiblek around the strands of a cable, said ring having parallel sides and having a central tapered tongue and a pair of tapered tongues op-y posed to the central tongue and between which the first-mentioned tongue is snugly received when the ring is compressed around the cable, the last-mentioned tongues each",l

having an inwardly directed terminal extension and there being at the sides of the central tongue inwardly vdirected notches in which the terminal extensions are snugly received, said notches defining lateral shoulders at the base of the central tongue against' which the terminal extensions engage and ride to be flexed outwardly during compression of the ring and there being fingers at the outer sides of the notches to flex the extensions inwardly behind the shouldersV whereby to lock the compressed ring against longitudinal and circumferential opening strain. l

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

HARRY PRINCE. 

